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The Colca Canyon - second deepest known canyon in the world - prime place to see the majestic
condors from up close and by far the main tourist attraction around Arequipa. Other attractions
besides the impressive mountain scenery, are the Thermal Baths near Chivay, free roaming Vicuņas
and other typical Andean flora and fauna and relatively traditional village life and Inca terracing.
Plus there is as well a museum, Inca ruins, a waterfall and a geothermal area.
Unlike the Cotahuasi Canyon - the deepest in the world, beating the Colca by less than 200m, it is
easily possible, though strenuous, to hike down to the bottom of the Canyon near Cabanaconde. Where
there are several treks, a waterfall, traditional villages as well as The Oasis with cheap
hostels and pools to hang out and relax.
There are three ways to experience the Colca Canyon. On a Bus tour, on a treking tour or on your own.
Public transportation to the Colca Canyon is extensive and treking tours actually go there with public
buses themselves.
The bus tours are the cheapest and shortest ranging form one to three days and
the agencies use their own comfy buses with most of the time english/spanish speaking guides.
They pick you up at your hostel and drive you to the different attractions before driving back to
Arequipa.
Treking tours range from two to seven days. Transportation is by public buses unless you pay a hefty
premium. The treking tours usually go down to the bottom of the Colca Canyon and trek from village to
village. Overnight stays are most of the time in basic hostels and not in tents.
Exploring the Colca Canyon on your own is totally feasible, though if don't have any hiking experience
and no decent map it might be advantegous to hire a local guide as tourists have gotten themselves lost.
In any case take extra water and food and enough protection against cold and rain with you in case
things do go wrong. More info about doing the Colca Canyon on your own will follow in an upcoming trip
report.
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One Day Colca Canyon Bus Tour
The tour for those on a really, really tight schedule. It is not really recommended
due to the altitude difference and risk of altitude sickness complications and it
isn't really any cheaper than the two days - one night tours. And it's a heck of a rush.
Basically the tour bus will pick you up at 1am to 2am, drive you up to the Cruz del Condor
during the night. Or you'll have to take a public night bus leaving around the same time from
the terminal to Cabanaconde, where you'll meet up with a 2 day tour that has left the day before.
In the morning head to the Cruz del Condor and watch the Condors for a bit then back direction
of Arequipa taking in on the way a couple of the other attractions in the Colca Canyon.
The price of the tour does not include entrance to the Cruz del Condor of 35 Soles (11US$) and the
entrance fee of 10 Soles to the thermal bath near Chivay (optional). Not included are as well the cost
of lunches and
diners. Price of the tour is 20US$ with
breakfast and 18US$ without. As it is not a very popular tour option, there might not be a tour every
day, especially in the low season.
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Two Days Colca Canyon Bus Tour
By far the most popular tour to visit the Colca Canyon. A comfy bus with english/spanish
speaking guide and a safe driver will pick you up at your hostel between 7:30am and 8:30am.
You will be driven to Cabanaconde in the Colca Canyon via Reserva Nacional Salinas y Aguada
Blanca and make a few stops at lookout points, to see Vicuņas, for breakfast, at villages, for
a little hike and for lunch.
The next morning after a night in a basic Hostel in Cabanaconde after breakfast you'll be driven to the
Cruz del Condor to watch the majestic condors gliding close by. Then it's off via Yanque to Chivay
and an optional visit to the thermal bath close by before it's back in direction to Arequipa where
you'll arrive between 4pm and 6pm.
The price of the tour does not include entrance to the Cruz del Condor of 35 Soles (11US$) and the
entrance fee of 10 Soles to the thermal bath near Chivay (optional). Not included are as well the cost
of lunches and
diners.Price of the tour is 20US$.
As it is a very popular tour option, there is a tour pretty much every day.
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Three Days Colca Canyon Bus Tour
This one is pretty much identical to the Two Day Bus Tour.
Except that you get left in Chivay at day two to spend an extra day by yourself.
Before heading back to Arequipa on day three with the two day tour group that left a day
after you.
The price of the tour does not include entrance to the Cruz del Condor of 35 Soles (11US$) and the
entrance fee of 10 Soles to the thermal bath near Chivay (optional). Not included are as well the cost
of lunches and diners.Price of the tour is 45US$.
As it is a very popular tour option, there is a tour pretty much every day.
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Two Days Colca Canyon Trekking Tour
The blitz version of Colca Canyon treking tours for those on a tight schedule.
You'll get picked at 3am by your guide in a taxi and head to the bus
terminal where you'll take a public night bus to Cabanaconde in the Colca Canyon.
You'll trek down to the bottom of the Canyon and visit a few villages by foot.
You'll spend the night at the Oasis in a basic hostel. On the second day
you'll get up very early to make it back up the 1200m to Cabanaconde in time to
catch a bus to the Cruz del Condor to watch the majestic condors fly by really close.
After that you'll head to Chivay by bus for an optional visit to the thermal baths
before heading back to Arequipa. Where you'll be arriving 5pm-ish.
The price of the tour does not include
entrance fee of 10 Soles to the thermal bath near Chivay (optional) as well as water and
snacks. Price of the tour is 40US$.
As it is not a very popular tour option, there is most likely not a tour every day. So plan ahead.
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Three Days Colca Canyon Trekking Tour
The most popular treking option in Arequipa.
You'll get picked between 6am by your guide in a taxi and head to the bus
terminal where you'll take a public bus to Cabanaconde in the Colca Canyon.
You'll trek down to the bottom of the Canyon and visit a few villages by foot.
You'll spend your first night in a basic hostel in one of the villages before continuing treking
through the picturesque vally on your second day. Visiting schools and hospitals and campesinos on the
way. Towards the end of the second day after a relaxing couple hours at the pools of The Oasis
you'll ascend
the 1200m back up to Cabanaconde where you'll spend your second night. On the third day you'll take
a morning bus to the Cruz del Condor to watch these majestic animals glide close by. After that the
tour continues to Chivay for an optional and relaxing visit to the thermal bath close by. Early afternoon
you'll take a public bus back to Arequipa. Where you should be arriving around 5pm-ish.
The price of the tour does not include the
entrance fee of 10 Soles to the thermal bath near Chivay (optional). Not included are as well
water, snakcks and your last lunch in Chivay on day three.Price of the tour is 45US$.
As it is a very popular tour option, there is a tour pretty much every other day.
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Four Days Colca Canyon Trekking Tour
A slightly extended version of the Three Day Treking Tour. Allowing you
to spend more time at the bottom of the Colca Canyon and to visit a spectacular water fall
a bit up the other side the Canyon as well as some Geysers and do some trout fishing in the Colca
River.
The price of the tour does not include the
entrance fee of 10 Soles to the thermal bath near Chivay (optional). Not included are as well
water, snakcks and your last lunch in Chivay on day three.Price of the tour is 65US$.
As it is a very popular tour option, there is a tour pretty much every other day.
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5-7 Days Colca Canyon to Valle de las Volcanoes Trekking Tour
This is one if not the most beautiful and rewarding treks that is offered by agencies in town. It will
take you down the world famous Colca Canyon up the other side through local villages and a 5300m pass
to La Valle de los Volcanoes. A picturesque valley dotted with over 50 small volcanic cones. You will
encounter all of the local flora and fauna and get to see live in villages that are hardly touched by
tourism at all.
Tours can be varied quite a bit with either public transporation from and to Arequipa, or by private
transportation. You can visit the Colca Canyon attractions like Vicuņas, the Hot Springs of Chivay
and the famous Cruz del Condor. Or if you have already done a more basic Colca Canyon tour. Skip all
those and head straight to the trail. On the way back from the Valle de los Volcanoes you can either
go straight to Arequipa - a monster of a trip - or break it down in Corire to visit the wonderful
Petroglyphs of Toro Muerto.
The trek is moderately strenuous but requires good acclimatisation as you'll get up to 5300m to
cross the mountain range that separates the Colca Canyon from the Valle de los Volcanoes. Some
nights will be spent in tents while others will be in basic accomodations in the villages you'll
visit.
The trek is best done between April and November as in the rainy season views might be less than
ideal and parts might be covered in snow. As it is a longer and not quite so popular trek it might
be a good idea to start looking a few days in advance as it might take a bit to get a group together.
That is if you want to save money and only go with a full group.
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